The Abu Dhabi Edition has opened its doors, marking the brand’s debut in the United Arab Emirates and in the Middle East as a whole. The project was overseen by brand creator Ian Schrager in collaboration with Marriott International.
The hotel has 198 guestrooms and suites as well as 57 residences on the Al Bateen peninsula, 20 minutes from The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the beaches of Saadiyat, and 35 minutes from Yas Island.
The development is what the company describes as an “intricately interlinked” complex of structures, spaces and settings that celebrate the lifestyle and traditions of the Emirati culture. Strategically situated along the marina, the exterior evokes the lateen sails of the traditional dhow boats that the region was once famed for building.
The designers' interpretation of local heritage and native, natural materials is emphasized throughout the hotel. In addition to a neutral palette and views over the surrounding water, each room displays work by 20th-century photographer Brett Weston that reference Abu Dhabi’s environment. The hotel also uses signature armchairs by local designer Latifa Saeed that feature silhouettes inspired by the way Emirati children braid their hair.
The property has three signature restaurants created by chef Tom Aikens, the youngest chef to ever have been awarded two Michelin stars. Just off the lobby, the open-kitchen Market at Edition is a three-meal lifestyle restaurant where guests may interact with chefs as they create dishes in the dining room.
Oak Room, meanwhile, is a traditional English oak-paneled steakhouse with “British rock ‘n’ roll flair," while The Library Bar offers a more intimate space to socialize. On the marina side of the hotel, Alba Terrace is a Mediterranean-style restaurant that features folding floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a large brass-clad aperitif bar.
Annex, opening later this year, offers three stories of space for socializing, including a rooftop garden bar, the Den on the floor below (with pool and pinball available) and live DJs on the ground floor.
The hotel’s Forum, a grand ballroom that measures 654 square meters with seating for 450 guests, can be accessed directly from both the hotel and the street. This private-event space also houses a pre-function area with two bridal suites and a majlis as well as an executive boardroom, meeting rooms and a business center.
Edition Spa at The Abu Dhabi Edition, opening by year's end, will have separate zones for men and women, with seven treatment rooms including two hammams, a facial room and couple’s treatment suite. The women’s area has a beauty salon and a relaxation lounge, while the men’s area includes a barbershop by Chaps & Co. The hotel also has two gyms equipped with free weights, yoga mats, exercise balls and cardio equipment by Life Fitness. The property also has two swimming pools, one connecting to the main hotel and the other in the private residences.